Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-17


RACKS AND vIcNITy-sEwAG4 AND DECOMPOSITION
THE cAUsR-RADICAL REMEDIES URGED-rwo PLANS
SUBMITTED.
Col Hams to-day submitted report to the Chief
OF Engineers OF the progress OF his work In charge
OF the surveys and the preparation Of plans and es
Inmates for improving the low lands in the imme-
diate vicinity OF the washington Barracks, with
view bettering the sanitary condition OF the post
He says: 'The chief cause OF the unhealthy condi-
ton OF the barracks Is the proximity OF the James
Creek Sewer canal The neighboring OATS are
perhaps no small factor, but the sewer
canal Is the main cause. The canal, OF
which survey was made In November
last, extends from the mouth OF the arched sewer
at south Capitol and G Streets in a line nearly
parallel with Delaware avenue, TO the north boun-
dary OF the Arsenal grounds, I'd and streets
southwest. II then follows the eastern boundary
OF the reservation for about 800 feet and empties
INTO the Eastern Branch midway between Buzzard's
and Greeneafs Points The covered sewer at its
mouth Is 30 feet wide and about IL feet in height
from the sewer down to the northern N boundary Of
the grounds; from thence to the Branch there is a
wall on the west side 1t is In need or repair. There
Is no wall on the east side About 600 feet above
its mouth the creek abruptly expands, the east
bank Following southeast course until It reaches
Buzzards Point where the width is over 1000 feet.
ter is from to feet at low tide. 1t is used for
purposes OF navigation by sand-scows, wood boats,
&C., which are thus able to come into the city.
SEWAGE AND DECOMPOSITION.
"The canal now drains an area OF 400 acres,
and the estimated flow Of sewage is not less than
10000, 900 gallons per day. Thssewage discharged
into the canal ebbs and ows with the feeble tide.
and the only other force tending to drive 1t out Is
the addition OF sewage flowing In at the head.
alternately over1owed with sewage. and exposed
10 the rays OF the sun, condition OF affairs that
co9d aardy Dc worse the Tne 6ea o. the canal Is
sewage and at low tide there Is constant ebulli-
tion OF gas from decomposition. When, as is fire.
a much larger area is exposed and consequently
more rapid evolution OF putrid gases During the
prevalence OF easterly winds these gases are
west winds are carried to the city. The canal, in
Its present condition, Is a constant menace TO the
health Of that part OF the city within the area OF
ut is proposed eventually to lead into this canal
the proposed tntercepting sewer along Water
street. considerable area OF the Arsenal grounds
plan OF improvement the nlling OF this area to at
least the level OF feet ABOVE low tide Is an essen
tial feature.
TWO PLANS OF IMPROVEMENT
are applicable TO better the sanitary condition Of
the Barracks and the neighboring portion Of the
city. Plan A Is as follows: Construct q retaining
wall on the east side OF the canal, from street
south to the Branch, as far as Bazzards Point, and
similar wall enclosing the triangular nat south
Of the Arsenal, between the mouth OF the canal
and Greenlears Point. The walls to he rubble
masonry to the height or g feet above low tide.
Fill In the low grounds OF the Barracks west OF
the canal the low grounds and marshes east OF the
canal, as far as Buzzards Point, and the trfang-
ular space between the Washington and Eastern
Branch channels TO q height above the highest
freshets. The freshet line at this locality Is 81
feet above low tide, and It is proposed TO dill these
grounds to 10 feet above low tide. On the east
Side OF the canal carry the 1n only TO the ffrm
ground the lands on this side being owned by pri-
yate individuals The area TO be reclaimed Will De
wide, and it should be dredged to depth Of feet
at low tide. The estimatel cost Of this plan Is as
follows: Walls east Side, 1850 feet at $780, slO9 500;
$4,000: south Of grounds, I,76O feet at $50
$52 600; repairs to west WALL $4,000; flling TO 10
feet above low tide) in grounds, 185, 500 cubic
Of street. cubic yards at 40 CENTS $44 400;
fats near Buzzard Point, south Of street. %, 100
cubic yards at 20 cents $s2 $40; south Of grounds
gencies at 10 per cent. S37 SEQ Total cost $413,
$50. II the MI and wan eoufh Of the GrOnnds be
omitted me cost Win VIII Be II The ns Of
for the present 70 feet only ude and that
south OF the barracks omitted the cost win be sti
canaI cube nos inciaaeS IN the
estimates, as the dredged material would be
utilized as flinga THIS plan would % Of great
the neighbOrhOOd but It would not entirely REM
edy the evils. The canal would still be a sewer
and the gases from 1t would be deleterious to
rr,y ,v,<,nv ,,,r,,,n
HAi nAeoiAhD
81 DO not see how through measures can be ap-
piled without the use OF steam pumps to take up
the sewage from the canal or sewer and force !,
through pipes to such place as may be necessary
the present sewer canal and the adjacent low
grounds TO. say. six feet above low tide. Extend
the DreSn r', ~ y, rhe ane ca @ ag or near
an,sS a. she ., ond ne y, t% se, U hs one
nmDin~ sta,,nn Have the onter end ~ ss hS aan
pnudnS sS a snY , ,S ene Sasn M
ver but SO arranged that they could be- opened ID ae
canac,tV of the nmns ~ hsnSIe ro tS,s SoS so
~"p'~''' Va '"0 pumps W AS. H'''A' 'nA" oa'in
PUMP THE SEWAGE
into stand to such height as may be necessary,
and have n nine mr. tunnel led from this stand IN
raoa,.,sr .ar,,o,- no., ,.nushaa ~ ,no 60 49,.
Ioooi'ins io0ei'oii oS'non'iiou VI Inc na'S near
GeiS00ro Point or force the sewage TO the reservoir
by the direct action OF the pumps This would
with some velocity to the outlet or pumps. This
would tend TO Keep
THE SEWER CLEAN,
and with ordinary means OF ventilation would be
no more Objectionable than other sewers The
pumping would tend, 1t is believed to oxidize the
deIetertous products hut II necessary f. couId be